1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to elections; permitting certain candidates, candidate representatives, and
1.3 political parties to observe the work of absentee ballot boards; permitting certain
1.4 candidates, candidate representatives, and political parties to observe recounts;
1.5 amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.121, by adding a subdivision;
1.6 proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 204C.
1.7BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.8 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 203B.121, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.9to read:
1.10 Subd. 6.Open meeting law; observation of ballot board activities by candidate or
1.11political party.Meetings of a ballot board are subject to chapter 13D. The ballot board
1.12must conduct its work, including the counting of ballots, in a manner that allows any
1.13candidate appearing on the ballot, that candidate's representative, or the representative of
1.14any political party appearing on the ballot to observe the ballot board's work. A candidate
1.15may have one representative present to observe the acceptance and rejection of absentee
1.16ballot envelopes, and one additional representative present at the time accepted absentee
1.17ballot secrecy envelopes are opened, and when those ballots are deposited in a ballot box
1.18and counted. If other election materials are handled or examined by the ballot board, the
1.19candidates and their representatives may observe them. The ballot board must ensure that
1.20members of the public, candidates, candidate representatives, and representatives of a
1.21political party do not interfere with the counting of the ballots.
1Section 1.
25-04064 as introduced02/18/25 REVISOR JFK/CH
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 2696NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: KORAN and Lucero)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading03/20/2025
Referred to Elections 2.1 Sec. 2. [204C.362] PUBLIC OBSERVATION OF RECOUNT.
2.2 During a recount, containers of voted ballots must be unsealed and resealed within public
2.3view. No ballots or election materials may be handled by candidates, their representatives,
2.4or members of the public. There must be an area of the room from which the public may
2.5observe the recount. Cell phones and video cameras may be used in this public viewing
2.6area, as long as their use is not disruptive. The recount official shall arrange the counting
2.7of the ballots so that the candidates and their representatives may observe the ballots as they
2.8are recounted. Candidates may each have one representative observe the sorting of each
2.9precinct. One additional representative per candidate may observe the ballots when they
2.10have been sorted and are being counted. Candidates may have additional representatives in
2.11the public viewing area of the room. If other election materials are handled or examined by
2.12the recount officials, the candidates and their representatives may observe them. The recount
2.13official shall ensure that public observation does not interfere with the counting of the
2.14ballots.
2Sec. 2.
25-04064 as introduced02/18/25 REVISOR JFK/CH